Tag Archives: stepping stone

Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, took to his blog today to applaud yesterday’s decision by the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional (Prop. 8, passed in 2008, prohibited marriage equality in California):

“Yesterday’s 9th Circuit decision, just like the decision in Lawrence v. Texas, is a stepping stone on the path to marriage equality for all. As Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in the opinion, ‘Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gay men and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.’ The same holds true for the marriage equality ban in Texas. That is why I continue to fight for marriage equality and continue to file the repeal of the ban of same sex marriage. Denying gay couples the right to marry is unconstitutional and a blatant denial of human rights. “

Coleman has a long history of filing pro-LGBT legislation in the Texas House. Last year he introduced historic legislation that, had it passed, would have called for a state-wide vote to repeal the section of Texas’ constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage, so he’s no stranger to the battle for marriage equality.

Coleman is seeking re-election to his District 147 seat. He will face long-time local LGBT activist Ray Hill in the Democratic Primary. No republican candidate has filed for the seat.

The Mr. Dallas Eagle title has been a stepping stone for greater things recently. In 2009, Jeffrey Payne went from Mr. Dallas Eagle on to Mr. Texas Leather and finally International Mr. Leather, the top leatherman title in the world. In 2010, Mr. Dallas Eagle Jack Duke also became Mr. Texas Leather, ultimately finishing third at IML. So pressure is on Scott Moore, who on Saturday night was named Mr. Dallas Eagle 2011. Moore will compete for Mr. Texas Leather at the end of January; IML, if he goes on to it, is in late May.

I spoke with Jack Duke Friday, his last full day as Mr. Dallas Eagle. He told me he was a little sad to lose the title, but he only had it a few weeks before becoming Mr. Texas — that one, he says, will be hard to lose.